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Last year, Deanna ‘Violet’ CoCo was standing on top of a truck on Sydney Harbour Bridge with a flare in her hand.She was prepared to be arrested; prepared to face harsh anti-protest laws – but she wasn’t prepared to be the target of national angst and passion about climate protest.She was given a 15-month prison sentence for her actions — with the magistrate calling her ‘childish' and ‘emotional’ during the sentencing. Today, fresh from beating that prison sentence on appeal, Violet CoCo on protest, justice, and the future of the climate movement. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Climate protestor Deanna ‘Violet’ CoCo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie stood up in parliament and dropped a bombshell on the Australian megachurch Hillsong.He tabled a cache of documents that alleged staggering misconduct and outrageous spending at Hillsong, including details of extravagant personal purchases made by some of its leaders, including former global senior pastor Brian Houston, using church money.Now, several days after the speech, we have access to these documents and the potential damage to the church is becoming clearer.Could Hillsong have broken charity regulations? What does the new leadership at the church have to say? And what does it all mean for the future of Hillsong?Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-Murray on how Hillsong spent its money, and why a whistleblower came forward.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-MurraySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Brown, the founding leader of The Greens, is ready to make a plea to Tanya Plibersek: stand up in cabinet and be a voice against coal and gas.While the party Brown used to lead is locked in a tense battle with the Labor party over the safeguard mechanism, he believes Tanya Plibersek could become the best environment minister Australia has ever had – she just needs the support of the prime minister.Today, former leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown, on the promise of Tanya Plibersek and why the government’s environmental credentials are at stake.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Former leader of the Australian Greens, Bob BrownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AUKUS agreement has brought a rare political sight this week: the government and the opposition are agreeing with each other.Both major parties support the deal and if anything they’re competing to show who can support it more strongly.But how will we pay for it? Will we cut spending on other services? Or try to increase tax revenue?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on how $368 billion dollars in spending is inevitably getting political.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul BongiornoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The single biggest defence spend in Australian history was announced this week, with the government committing up to $368 billion over the next 30 years to acquire nuclear submarines.Former prime minister Paul Keating has called it “the worst decision by a Labor government in a century”.And big questions remain about whether these subs will ever be delivered at all. So, what could a misstep in the rollout mean for our security as tensions rise between China and the United States?Today, emeritus professor of strategic studies at ANU, Hugh White, on why the AUKUS submarines might never be delivered.You can read his article on the deal on The Saturday Paper website, published in conjunction with Australian Foreign Affairs.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, Hugh WhiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Hughes was once hailed as a young literary genius, and won a scholarship to Cambridge.Yet he found himself back in Australia working as a librarian and a teacher before his writing found acclaim.Hughes was shortlisted for some of the greatest honours in Australian writing. But under the scrutiny of greater acclaim, a strange web of inconsistencies and copying struck one reader: Anna Verney.Today, writer, reporter and lawyer Anna Verney and contributing editor to The Monthly Richard Cooke, on how they first discovered the borrowings of John Hughes and the revelations that followed.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Writer Anna Verney and contributing editor to The Monthly Richard CookeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The royal commission hearings into robo-debt are over.With over 100 witnesses and nine weeks of hearings, the commission into one of the greatest failures in the history of the Australian government has already given us unforgettable insight into the thinking of our public servants and leading politicians.But there are still questions to be answered: like how could so many — find themselves in lock-step behind a policy that was unlawful?Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on what we learned from inside the commission’s hearings.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has to act fast to help cut emissions and avoid a global climate catastrophe.After decades of inaction, the Labor Government has brought their proposal forward, adjusting the awkwardly named safeguard mechanism.But this bets our climate future heavily on emission offsets – or carbon credits. They’re a convoluted way of making up for emissions, by doing good elsewhere.Are they actually a scam?Today, contributor to The Monthly Nick Feik, on the dodgy trades for our climate future.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly, Nick FeikSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, a tribute to publisher, poet and memoirist Robert Adamson.Robert died late last year and to mark that moment, The Monthly decided to posthumously republish two of his essays on a subject very dear to him: fishing.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Publisher, poet and memoirist, Robert Adamson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s climate future is again hanging in the balance.And, once more, it could all depend on a Labor government negotiating with the Greens.As it stands, they’re at loggerheads. The Greens want no new coal and gas developments to be approved; the government is accusing the Greens of being unrealistic.But should the Greens be expected to pass whatever Labor is proposing? And where’s the science in all of this? Today, contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel Withers, on the impossible choice facing the Greens.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel WithersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.